SINKERS

What size sinker do I need today?

Q: What size sinker do I need today?

Calm (Under 2 ft, wind under 10 kt): 2-3 oz pyramid. Normal (2-3 ft, light chop): 3-4 oz pyramid. Moderate (3-5 ft, steady sweep): 4-5 oz pyramid or frog tongue. Strong (5-6 ft, heavy sweep): 5-6 oz frog tongue or sputnik. Very strong (Over 6 ft, or 20+ kt of wind): 6-8 oz sputnik, or fish the sound. Weight is how you read the water. Get it right and the bait stays where the fish are.

Weight is how you read the water. Get it right and the bait stays where the fish are.

What to use today

Surf breaking on an Outer Banks beach at first light

Right now

Reading the buoys and the tide station for surf sinkers…

Surf state to sinker

This table is the guide. It does not change with the weather, which makes it the part worth printing and keeping in the truck.

Surf state to sinker
Surf state	When it happens	What to tie on
Calm	Under 2 ft, wind under 10 kt	2-3 oz pyramidUnder 2 ft, wind under 10 ktA light rod can hold this all day.
Normal	2-3 ft, light chop	3-4 oz pyramid2-3 ft, light chopThe everyday OBX surf.
Moderate	3-5 ft, steady sweep	4-5 oz pyramid or frog tongue3-5 ft, steady sweepStart adding shape, not just weight.
Strong	5-6 ft, heavy sweep	5-6 oz frog tongue or sputnik5-6 ft, heavy sweepFish the sloughs close in; long casts get dragged.
Very strong	Over 6 ft, or 20+ kt of wind	6-8 oz sputnik, or fish the soundOver 6 ft, or 20+ kt of windNothing you cast will hold for long. The sound side still fishes.

The six shapes that cover the Banks

The six shapes that cover the Banks
Shape	What it does	Where it shines
Pyramid	All-around surf weight. The point digs into sand and holds.Any ocean beach on a normal day; the default on your first cast.	Any ocean beach on a normal day; the default on your first cast.
Frog tongue	Flat triangle with a wide face that bites into running water.Moderate to heavy sweep, drum surf, the sloughs inside the bar.	Moderate to heavy sweep, drum surf, the sloughs inside the bar.
Sputnik	Wire legs fold out and lock the weight into the sand.The heaviest surf and the strongest current. The last stop before you go home.	The heaviest surf and the strongest current. The last stop before you go home.
Egg	Round, rolls with the current, cheap enough to lose.Sound side and calm days when a bait that drifts is a feature, not a problem.	Sound side and calm days when a bait that drifts is a feature, not a problem.
Coin	Flat and wide, sits on top of soft bottom instead of sinking in.Sound and inlet flats over mud and grass, light current.	Sound and inlet flats over mud and grass, light current.
Trolling sinker	Inline weight that tracks straight at boat speed.Behind a boat, never on a surf cast.	Behind a boat, never on a surf cast.

Four rules that save a session

If the sinker rolls, go heavier first and change the shape second. Shape is the better fix, weight is the faster one.
Shape beats weight. A 6 oz sputnik out-holds an 8 oz pyramid in a running sweep, and it casts better.
Match the sinker to the rig. A fish finder and a high-low want different weights for the same water.
Stay inside your rod's rating. Loading a rod past its weight to beat the current breaks rods and ruins casts.

Cheat sheet

Cheat sheet
Surf state	Weight	Shape	Rig
Calm	2-3 oz	Pyramid	High-lowPyramid
Normal	3-4 oz	Pyramid	Fish finderPyramid
Moderate	4-5 oz	Pyramid or frog tongue	Fish finderPyramid or frog tongue
Strong	5-6 oz	Frog tongue or sputnik	Fish finder, single hookFrog tongue or sputnik
Very strong	6-8 oz	Sputnik	Sound side insteadSputnik